BJD leader Pranab Prakash Das’ brother Bhaba Das gets bail, walks out of jail

Bhaba Das alias Lala, brother of senior BJD leader Pranab Prakash Das walked out of jail after he was granted bail by the District and Sessions Judge, Jajpur, on Saturday. While he had been granted bail in four cases, he had applied for bail in another case.

Hearing the case, the District and Sessions Judge granted him bail, allowing Das to walk out of the jail. The controversy erupted after Bhaba Das and his supporters allegedly assaulted Dharmasala MLA Himanshu Sahoo, on the evening of 20 November, resulting in prohibitory orders imposed in Jajpur town.

In response, protests erupted at the Jajpur police station, with demonstrators expressing discontent over the handling of the case. 

Later, Bhaba Das faced allegations of verbally abusing vegetable vendors and customers and was accused of orchestrating a roadblock at Biraja Market. Based on several complaints, the local police registered five cases against him.

Das was previously granted bail for four of these cases. On this occasion, the district judge approved bail in the final remaining case against him, allowing him to be released pending further proceedings.

The decision follows a series of legal manoeuvres and public demonstrations reflecting the local community's divided opinion on the issue. Bhaba Das's bail signifies a crucial development in an ongoing case that has captivated attention across the region.

“The bail hearing of Bhaba Das alias Lala was done in the first hour. After hearing both the parties, the district judge has successfully granted bail to him,” claimed Das’ lawyer Samarendra Das.